SINGER - Arson is suspected as the cause of a towering fire that engulfed and
destroyed the west wing of
Singer High School early Saturday.
The fire, which officials say closely resembled a similar blaze that destroyed
the old school building two years
ago, "was definately deliberately set", according to the Beauregard
Parish Sheriff's office.
The fire reportedly began in the office of the principal and spread rapidly
to other parts of the building.
In all, twelve classrooms and the entire operational facilities of the high
school were destroyed in the three
alarm blaze, which began about 4:20 am.
Units from DeRidder and Singer answered the call, which officials said came
several minutes after the fire
began.
DeRidder Fire Chief Everton Henry, who answered the initial call said "the
smoke from the fire was so
heavy that we figure it began a while before we got there."
There were no injuries in the blaze.
John T Rudd, principal of the school, said at least $600,000 damage was done
to the one-year-old
facility, which was built after another suspected arson fire destroyed the former
Singer High School
building two years ago.
As with this fire, the one a couple of years ago started just before the school
term was to open, Rudd said.
The fall term was to begin at 8 a m today.
"Besides the damage to the building, this fire also amounts to an extended
vacation for students until the
school board decides what to do." Singer (should be Rudd???) said.
"This was really what I call a
coincidence."
Fire Marshal Michael McLaughton, who visited the ruins early Sunday with Everton,
said the arson sus-
picion stems from an alleged robbery that have occurred prior to the setting
of the fire.
According to sheriff's deputies, an undertimed amount of money was missing from
the principal's office
after rubble was inspected.
Police have no suspects in the incident.